PhD position in Global Health and Epidemiology

Published: 2017-05-11

Uppsala University is an international research university focused on the development of science and education. Our most important assets are all the individuals who with their curiosity and their dedication make Uppsala University one of Sweden’s most exciting work places. Uppsala University has 40,000 students, 7,000 employees and a turnover of SEK 6,5 billion.

UppsalaAntibioticCenter (UAC) was announced in 2015 to bring together, stimulate and support research addressing important questions regarding antibiotic resistance from all three disciplinary domains at Uppsala University: Medicine and Pharmacy, Science and Technology and Humanities and Social sciences. UAC is now advertising 14 PhD positions.

Antibiotic resistance is a rapidly expanding global problem. The complexity of the current situation requires novel approaches in all scientific disciplines including new antibiotics, better understanding of resistance development, faster diagnostic methods, new economic models for drug development, global governance and better understanding of how to change behavior around the use of antibiotics and spread of pathogenic bacteria.

The present position is located at the Department of Women’s and Children’s Health (International Maternal and Child Health Unit). We seek a highly-motivated individual, with the ability to work independently and a strong interest in pursuing a PhD degree in global health and epidemiology. International Maternal and Child Health (IMCH) unit has a strong and international research and teaching environment that includes 23 PhD students with 110 in the Department of Women’s and Children’s Health more broadly.

Project description: Global surveillance of antibiotic consumption to date has largely relied on pharmaceutical sales data that do not directly measure use nor highlight important disparities in usage, such as by socioeconomic status. The doctoral project aims to systematically map antibiotic usage among sick children across low- and middle-income countries in 2000-2015 to identify global trends, regional variations and socio-economic differentials. Key drivers of these patterns will also be explored including health system readiness to provide antibiotic prescriptions per clinical guidelines using comprehensive health facility assessments from multiple low-income countries.

This global mapping exercise will be complemented by an in-depth analysis of antibiotic usage trends in Zanzibar (Tanzania) where policy or epidemiology changes in this local setting could drive new antibiotic consumption patterns. Zanzibar has experienced significant declines in malaria transmission in recent years while also widely deploying point-of-care malaria diagnostics to improve precision in antimalarial treatment. This shift in local malaria epidemiology and improved diagnosis, while reducing antimalarial prescriptions, may also drive growing widespread antibiotic prescriptions as an alternative therapy as suggested by some evidence from limited hospital settings. Taken together, these analyses draw on approximately 200 open-access datasets from Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS), Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS) and Service Provision Assessments (SPA), which are nationally-representative household and health facility surveys comparably conducted in multiple countries since the mid-1990s. DHS and MICS include questions to caregivers on medicines (including antibiotics) given to their children under five years old with reported illness symptoms (fever, cough or diarrhea) in the previous two weeks. SPA includes facility audits and observed consultations to measure health system readiness to dispense antibiotics per clinical guidelines. Project findings will provide new and important large-scale evidence of changing antibiotic use patterns for sick children in low- and middle-income countries including key health system, policy or epidemiological drivers.

Duties: The successful candidate will engage in research work and doctoral studies. Other duties at the department, i.e. administration and teaching, may be included in the employment up to a maximum level of 20 %.

Requirements:

Masters degree in epidemiology and/or global health

Strong English proficiency (both oral and written)

Experience using statistical analysis software (R or Stata preferred)

Experience analysing large datasets preferably using DHS, MICS or SPA

At least 1-2 years experience in a low-income setting preferably working with maternal and child health programs

Quantitative, detail-oriented, independent, strong communication skills and able to work effectively and collaboratively as part of a team

To be employed as a PhD student, the applicant must be accepted in a doctoral program. Information concerning doctoral education, requirements and rules of admission can be found at http://www.medfarm.uu.se. The length of the study period for full time employment is a maximum of four years. Terms for graduate studies can be found in Högskoleförordningen 5 kap 1-7 §§. Salary is subject to established local guidelines.

Application: Please submit your application including 1) CV 2) letter describing your research interests, skills and motivations to apply for the position 3) publications or a copy of master thesis or equivalent 4) two reference letters.

Uppsala University strives to be an inclusive workplace that promotes equal opportunities and attracts qualified candidates who can contribute to the University’s excellence and diversity. We welcome applications from all sections of the community and from people of all backgrounds.

Pay: According to local agreement for PhD students and teaching assistants.

You are welcome to submit your application no later than 9 June, 2017, UFV-PA 2017/1764.

Are you considering moving to Sweden to work at Uppsala University? If so, you will find much information about working and living in Sweden at www.uu.se/joinus. You are also welcome to contact the International Faculty and Staff Services at ifss@uadm.uu.se.

We decline offers of recruitment and advertising help. We only accept the application the way described in the advertisement.

Placement:
Department of Women's and Children's Health

Type of employment:
Full time
, Temporary position longer than 6 months